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Big task for airlines as ban ends Big task for airlines as ban ends
(about 1 hour later)
Airlines face a "huge logistical operation" as tens of thousands of Britons try to get home after a six-day shutdown because of volcanic ash.Airlines face a "huge logistical operation" as tens of thousands of Britons try to get home after a six-day shutdown because of volcanic ash.
The first flights began landing in the UK on Tuesday night after safety tests showed plane engines could cope in areas of low density ash.The first flights began landing in the UK on Tuesday night after safety tests showed plane engines could cope in areas of low density ash.
Passengers have been warned of further delays because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place.Passengers have been warned of further delays because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place.
More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe over the past week.More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe over the past week.
BAA, which operates many of the UK's airports, said people should contact their airlines before travelling to an airport for a flight Passengers are being advised to contact their airlines before travelling to an airport for a flight.
WEDNESDAY'S FLIGHTS BA: All long haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick; Short haul cancellations until noonVirgin Atlantic: Normal scheduleThomson: Outbound flights cancelledEasyjet: Limited serviceRyanair: No flights until 1300 BST on Thursday; No UK-Ireland flights until 1300 BST on FridayFlyBe: Flights from 1300 BST but some cancellations expectedWEDNESDAY'S FLIGHTS BA: All long haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick; Short haul cancellations until noonVirgin Atlantic: Normal scheduleThomson: Outbound flights cancelledEasyjet: Limited serviceRyanair: No flights until 1300 BST on Thursday; No UK-Ireland flights until 1300 BST on FridayFlyBe: Flights from 1300 BST but some cancellations expected
Heathrow would normally handle about 1,250 flights on an average Wednesday but the departures and arrivals boards at the west London airport were full of cancellations.Heathrow would normally handle about 1,250 flights on an average Wednesday but the departures and arrivals boards at the west London airport were full of cancellations.
There were no departures until 0806BST when an Alitalia flight left for Rome. There had only been 26 arrivals, including 22 British Airways flights, by 0830BST. There were no departures until 0806BST when an Alitalia flight left for Rome. The first two BA flights have left Heathrow for Tel Aviv and New York.
UK air traffic control body Nats said it had handled 130 flights over England and Wales, and 35 in Scottish airspace, between 0100 BST and 0700 BST on Wednesday.
Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel body Abta, said the return to normality would be slow and there was also a risk the ash cloud could return.Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel body Abta, said the return to normality would be slow and there was also a risk the ash cloud could return.
"The thing to remember is that aircraft and crew are going to be in the wrong place," she said."The thing to remember is that aircraft and crew are going to be in the wrong place," she said.
I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home Willie Walsh British Airways chief executive BBC Travel NewsI think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home Willie Walsh British Airways chief executive BBC Travel News
"I know for example that some of our tour operators have decided to cancel their programmes going out of the UK in order to reposition their aircraft and crew. It's a huge logistical operation.""I know for example that some of our tour operators have decided to cancel their programmes going out of the UK in order to reposition their aircraft and crew. It's a huge logistical operation."
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said it would take weeks to get back to normal levels of operation.British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said it would take weeks to get back to normal levels of operation.
"We're now at British Airways going to start the difficult task of getting our stranded customers back home. I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home," he said."We're now at British Airways going to start the difficult task of getting our stranded customers back home. I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home," he said.
'Almost gleeful' Everyone felt that if the pilot was happy to fly then we were happy to get on David Jack Passenger class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8633841.stm">Passengers relieved at UK return
The decision to close UK airspace and the government's response to the ensuing chaos has sparked a political row. Aviation analyst John Strickland said budget airlines would have fewer planes in far-flung destinations and may recover more quickly. He also said most people who were booked on flights leaving the UK on Wednesday "would be in luck".
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis denied the UK authorities had been slow to get planes flying again, saying the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights. Flights have been grounded across the UK and much of Europe since Thursday following the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
The eruption sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines.
Scientists say the ash plume is now shrinking, although it remains changeable.
The International Air Transport Association estimated the airlines had lost about $1.7bn (£1.1bn) as a result of the travel disruption.
Political row
The restrictions were lifted after the Civil Aviation Authority said safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas".
ANALYSIS By Pallab Ghosh, science correspondent, BBC NewsANALYSIS By Pallab Ghosh, science correspondent, BBC News
The question the airline industry is asking is why did it take six days for the Civil Aviation Authority to change its policy, and what does it know now that it did not know a week ago.The question the airline industry is asking is why did it take six days for the Civil Aviation Authority to change its policy, and what does it know now that it did not know a week ago.
Part of the problem faced by the regulator is that there is a limited evidence base with which to make an accurate risk assessment.Part of the problem faced by the regulator is that there is a limited evidence base with which to make an accurate risk assessment.
Such occurrences are rare so the policy seems to have been one of safety first.Such occurrences are rare so the policy seems to have been one of safety first.
But as the flight ban wore on, with increasing numbers of passengers stranded and the cost to the airline industry rising, the CAA was forced to reassess its policy.But as the flight ban wore on, with increasing numbers of passengers stranded and the cost to the airline industry rising, the CAA was forced to reassess its policy.
It consulted extensively with jet engine manufacturers and gathered new evidence from test flights through the volcanic ash.It consulted extensively with jet engine manufacturers and gathered new evidence from test flights through the volcanic ash.
This process led the regulator to conclude on Tuesday night that planes would not stall if they flew through low concentrations of the ash, and passengers faced a greater risk by remaining stranded for several days.This process led the regulator to conclude on Tuesday night that planes would not stall if they flew through low concentrations of the ash, and passengers faced a greater risk by remaining stranded for several days.
It has set down requirements for airlines such as conducting risk assessments and inspecting aircraft for ash damage before and after each flight.
The decision to close UK airspace and the government's response to the ensuing chaos has sparked a political row.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis denied the UK authorities had been slow to get planes flying again, saying the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights.
"The whole of Europe has been in the same position, acting according to the same aviation safety rules," he said. "European safety regulators have been working to properly understand the impact of the ash cloud which has come from Iceland.""The whole of Europe has been in the same position, acting according to the same aviation safety rules," he said. "European safety regulators have been working to properly understand the impact of the ash cloud which has come from Iceland."
Lord Adonis also denied the decision to reopen the airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry, which has been losing millions of pounds during the shutdown. Lord Adonis also denied the decision to reopen the airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry.
USEFUL LINKS Latest health advice Air passenger rights Travel news Foreign Office advice (external link)
But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said Labour's "misjudgement and mismanagement" had "badly let down" the travelling public.But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said Labour's "misjudgement and mismanagement" had "badly let down" the travelling public.
Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesman, called for an inquiry but said the government was not responsible for a volcano in Iceland.Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesman, called for an inquiry but said the government was not responsible for a volcano in Iceland.
"I do think it's important to remember that the government has had to listen to professional advice on this, and I think it's pretty reprehensible for the Conservatives to be almost gleeful about the chaos that there has been," he said."I do think it's important to remember that the government has had to listen to professional advice on this, and I think it's pretty reprehensible for the Conservatives to be almost gleeful about the chaos that there has been," he said.
As airlines try to organise their schedules, contingency plans to get Britons home by other means are still in place. In other developments:
BBC News correspondent Jonny Dymond in Madrid says the UK government's plans to charter 150 coaches for citizens flying in to the Spanish capital from long-haul destinations were going ahead.
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  • Britons stuck on mainland Europe are still being advised to make their way to France's northern ports to catch a ferry across the Channel.
  • Five coaches hired by the Foreign Office carrying about 250 people have already left Madrid, which is acting as a hub for Britons flying in from other parts of the world. They should reach Calais on Wednesday afternoon. A further 10 coaches are due to leave the Spanish capital at noon.
  • English football teams Liverpool and Fulham are en route to Europa League semi-final ties in Europe on Thursday, having started their journeys by coach before the restrictions were lifted.
Ministers planned to use Madrid as a hub to get people back to the UK. An estimated 150,000 Britons have been stranded abroad and people have been struggling to leave the UK, with only a handful of flights taking off from airports in the past six days.
He said Foreign Office advice to people stranded in Europe remained to attempt to reach French Channel ports.
After the lifting of the flight restrictions, the first plane to land at Heathrow Terminal Five was a BA flight from Vancouver at 2140 BST.
The first passenger off the flight was Neil Rogers, from Little London, near Reading, who said the atmosphere on board was "great".
Asked about the volcanic ash, he said: "It's one of those things you can't do anything about.
"As we were coming into land I was quite concerned as we were coming through the cloud."
Everyone felt that if the pilot was happy to fly then we were happy to get on David Jack Passenger Passengers relieved at UK return
An estimated 150,000 Britons have been stranded abroad during the six-day shutdown and people have been struggling to leave the UK, with only a handful of flights taking off from airports in the past six days.
English football teams Liverpool and Fulham are en route to Europa League semi-final ties in Europe on Thursday, having started their journeys by coach before the restrictions were lifted.
The restrictions were lifted after the Civil Aviation Authority said its safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas".
It has set down requirements for airlines such as conducting risk assessments and inspecting aircraft for ash damage before and after each flight.
USEFUL LINKS Latest health advice Air passenger rights Travel news Foreign Office advice (external link)
Flights have been grounded across the UK and much of Europe since Thursday following the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
The eruption sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines.
Anyone concerned about the safety of a British national who is still stranded abroad can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000, or visit its website.Anyone concerned about the safety of a British national who is still stranded abroad can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000, or visit its website.
Stranded Britons should contact their local embassy, high commission or consulate.Stranded Britons should contact their local embassy, high commission or consulate.
Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Are you an airline staff member? Send us your comments.Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Are you an airline staff member? Send us your comments.
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